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Author
Topic: Truvada lowers my stress point (Read 5573 times)

A friend and I are both on Truvada and Viramune and were both experiencing a lower tolerance to handle stress. A shorter temper if you will in which we flip out in our minds with incredible rage when under stress. Something we didn't experience so commonly before. The reason I believe the culprit is the Truvada is because my friend has been on meds for years, but only in the last year did he go on Truvada and through conversations discovered this new personality trait we've both been experiencing. What has your experience been with Truvada with regard to your temper?

this is an interesting question. Reyataz, Norvir and Truvada are the only combination I've been on (2 1/2 years) so I really don't have anything to compare them to. But you're right, my stress level is real low. I used to be able to hold my temper. It got so bad I'm now taking 20g of prozac to balance out my moods. I've always thought it was it was HAART in general but it could be just the Truvada. Who knows?

I, too, have noticed that with truvada, also on zoloft to help balance me out. But, yes, I really do believe that Truvada causes people to have short fuses. It does cross the blood/brain barrier right? Then, it is highly possible.

in the old forums there have been a few conversations questioning truvada as a culprit in this. Often hard to identify, especially since many are on sustiva/truvada... which one is it kind of question.

Nothing substantial or definitive was reached from those conversations, but more than a few noted temper issues who took truvada. . I suspect truvada may have more issues than actually publicized in it's trials. Something that is only becoming more readily apparant now that it is in wide distribution imho.

I cannot with 100% say that sustiva was the cause of all my issues, though when i stopped it, most of them went away, but that doesn't negate the feeling that truvada was playing some part in that.

I think it does have some negative mental affects like that...and as it says on the truvada website (even though it mentions nothing about mental affects)... "the list of side effects is not complete as truvada is still being studied".

/sigh. So basically nobody knows nuthin'! But that doesn't make it untrue either.

I haven't noticed a short temper since starting Truvada in May, but I have experienced a lot more headaches than normal. I've taken so many meds for so long, the 'reference' point of what 'normal' is supposed to feel like is not on my radar any more.

I just keep plodding along. Have you tried some relaxation techniques? That was the most important lesson I took from my early support groups (late 80's).

Hope it gets better for you!

Alan

Logged

"Remember my sentimental friend that a heart is not judged by how much you love, but by how much you are loved by others." - The Wizard of Oz

Well, after a couple of weeks off of Truvada, I don't have the muschle/joint pain I constantly had, especially when I did some work. I've also seen I don't "fly off of the handle" so much either, I "seemed" to have calmed some, although I've always been what some refer to as "high strung".

Yes, I also lose my temper easily now... My best friend has noticed that already and "warned" me... I started taking Sustiva/Truvada 9 months ago. I'll try to control myself before I start taking any more meds... let's see how it goes...

The only time I had trouble controlling my anger/temper or stress levels were primarily in the first few months of starting treatment.. I didn't blame that on medication, to me I believe it was other issues at the time.After that things had mellowed out quite a lot. I have been on Viramune , since the beginning. I am also on Viread, part of Truvada. Also, not on any anti-depressants.

I am on Sustiva and Truvada and have been noticing I am very Irritated most of the time. especially i have been getting road rage , which is not real good.I am not sure if it's the meds or PMS , probably both. nice to know i am not the only one. thanks Cristy